Integrating digital technologies into other subject areas

Teachers are discovering the many wonderful connections that can be made between the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies (AC:DT) and other subject areas. Integrating digital technologies outcomes with other subjects such as mathematics and English often enhances the learning and provides a further level of engagement.

An important consideration when integrating AC:DT is to ensure the connection is meaningful and adds to the learning. We will be looking at this in our next webinar, which is a Q&A on the Scope and Sequence.

In the meantime, you can also watch one of our previous webinar recordings: Integrating Digital Technologies into other subject areas.

Example activities

Here are some activities and lessons you may want to consider. Most of these have a programming focus.

Years F–2

About me
Algorithmic thinking with humanities and social sciences.
Order images to show a sequence of personal events or milestones such as birth, first tooth, beginning to crawl.
Bee-Bot ruler
Algorithmic thinking with mathematics.
Explore the concept of sequencing steps, using Bee-Bots to measure length.
Unifix block models
Algorithmic thinking with mathematics.
Create a model using Unifix blocks 1 block high and create a code so someone else can build your model.

Years 3–4

Create a language-learning program
Visual programming with humanities and social sciences.
Create a computer program to learn an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
Design a quiz: Convicts — crime and punishment
Visual programming with humanities and social sciences.
Students design and create a simple game/quiz to demonstrate convict crimes and punishments.

Years 5–6

Design a flag with Pencil Code
Visual programming with humanities and social sciences.
Design your own Australian flag by examining common elements of flags and creating a step-by-step process (algorithm) to program your design.
Class blog
Online collaboration with English.
Students unpack elements of English and digital technologies and investigate the concept, purpose and critical features of a good blog.
Learning environments
Electronics kit containing sensors with science and mathematics.
Through investigating the environmental influences on our classroom, and learning environments such as light, noise and temperature, students collect data and identify the optimal learning environment.

Years 5–8

Creating my own spreadsheet to convert binary to decimal
Binary numbers with mathematics.
This lesson provides guidance for students and teachers to make a spreadsheet that converts a binary number to a decimal number.

Years 7–8

There can only be one
Python programming with humanities and social sciences.
Students write a simple suite of programs that can be used to facilitate an SRC election though the collection and processing of data.

Case study

You may also want to view the North Fitzroy Primary School case study.

This primary school has focused on both ICT integration across the school and building digital technologies competencies and knowledge.

Making a difference

Lead Learners — teachers who have lead the way in digital technologies in their schools — talk about what they have implemented that has made a difference in their school. Sally Hill, eLearning Coach at Point Cook P–9 College, explains some of the key stages and elements of the College’s whole school approach to eSafety and being eSmart. Check out Our eSmart Journey.

Activities: Test your knowledge!

A new addition to the Digital Technologies Hub this year, is our Activities page. It’s full of quick activities you can use as ice-breakers, time-fillers, or as something for your students to do while they are waiting for their computer to start. Even better, the answers are included on the page!

Here are some of the activities to get you started:

Find out if you were right!

Webinar: Scope and Sequence Q&A

Presented by: Martin Richards and Paula Christophersen
28 March 2018, 4.30pm – 5.30pm AEDT

During this session, we'll be answering your questions about our new Scope and Sequence for the Digital Technologies curriculum. We'll also demonstrate some of the digital technologies in action to bring the Scope and Sequence to life.

Please be sure to send us your questions beforehand, so we can answer as many as possible during the live event. You can provide them during registration.

Register now!

Introduction to Python

Presented by: Owen Brasier
This webinar offers an introduction to Python programming, and how to teach it to students in the classroom. It is aimed at the years 7–8 band of the Australian Curriculum, focusing specifically on the implementation thread and the requirements of the curriculum. However, this webinar is also relevant for primary teachers who want to see what comes after Scratch and block programming. We start from the beginning and go through to building our own guessing game using Python.

The recording for this, and all our previous webinars, can be found on our webinars page.

Digital Technologies Hub in the news

School libraries support digital technologies, Connections
Martin Richards explains how libraries can extend their offering of digital technologies, using some practical examples.
Digital technologies: It’s all in the planning, Scootle Lounge
This article provides a great overview of the new Scope and Sequence from the Digital Technologies Hub.

Upcoming events

Find out what competitions, conferences and professional learning opportunities are on offer in 2018 through our events calendar.

Bring coding into the classroom; 15 February – 8 November, NSW
Digital Technologies Workshops; 22 March – 28 June, QLD and NSW
Build a Collaborative Classroom with Office 365; 23 March – 13 June, VIC
F–6 Digital Technologies Extended MOOC; 26–27 March, QLD
Computational and Algorithmic Thinking; 27–28 March, National
The Science Challenge; 1 April, National
Discover OneNote and Teams for Education; 4 April, VIC
Minecraft Teacher Starter Academy; 6 April – 20 June, VIC
STEMaker; 9–10 April, SA
Accessibility and Inclusivity in the Classroom using Technology; 9 April, VIC
TeachTechPlay masterclass; 10 April, VIC
F–6 Digital Technologies MOOC; 11–12 April, QLD
TeachTechPlay Conference; 12–13 April, VIC
Digital Technologies and the NSW Curriculum Workshops; 16 April – 25 June, NSW

Have we missed any digital technologies events happening in your area? Let us know at: digitaltechnologieshub@esa.edu.au and we can add them to our calendar.